Bound for Sourabaya!



OH, the moon shines bright, and we sail to-night,   
 And we’re bound for Sourabaya!   
So it’s ‘Farewell, Jane!’ for we’re off again   
 With the turning of the tide!   
Oh, the Java girls haven’t got no curls,           
 But they’ll meet us on the Praya,   
And, Malay or Dutch, well, the odds ain’t much,   
 And the ocean’s deep and wide!   
  
We’re bound for Sourabaya, boys,   
 Where the girls are kind and brown!           
By the break of day we’ll be far away!   
 Farewell to Sydney town!   
  
Oh, the girls look glum, when the parting’s come,   
 And we’re bound for Sourabaya!   
And they weep and wail, cos’ the ship must sail           
 With the turning of the tide!   
But we soon forget, when our sheets are wet   
 And the dancing dolphins play—ah,   
And the gale pipes high in the mackerel sky,   
 And the ocean’s deep and wide!           
  
We’re bound for Sourabaya, boys,   
 Where the girls are kind and brown,   
And they hope and pray that we’ve come to stay!   
 Farewell to Sydney town!   
  
When the coin’s all gone, and the hatches on,           
 And we’re bound for Sourabaya,   
There’s a kiss for Nell, and a long farewell,   
 With the turning of the tide!   
But there’s not much wrong, and it don’t last long,   
 Tho’ she mourns you for a day—ah!           
And she wears no black if you don’t come back!   
 For the ocean’s deep and wide!   
  
And we’re bound for Sourabaya, boys,   
 Where the girls are kind and brown,   
So we’ll drink once more,           
 While we’re on the shore,   
   Farewell to Sydney town!

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:18 min read
62

Quick analysis:

Scheme xAxBxaxB CDeD xAxBxfxB CDeD xAxBxfxb cDggD
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 1,592
Words 260
Stanzas 6
Stanza Lengths 8, 4, 8, 4, 8, 5

Charles Henry Souter

Charles Henry Souter was a Scottish born poet and artist who lived for much of his life in Australia. He was a qualified medical practitioner and worked often as a locum doctor while finding the time to make a significant contribution to South Australian literature. more…

All Charles Henry Souter poems | Charles Henry Souter Books

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    "Bound for Sourabaya!" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 20 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/5226/bound-for-sourabaya!>.

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